Urgent crack repair with helical bars

The project

This Colindale project began with an urgent site visit to cracking in a house. The brief was first to establish what needed to happen straight away, and then to design repairs that would stop further movement. When cracking appears suddenly or seems to be getting worse, owners want a clear answer quickly, and the engineering has to move from assessment to repair design without losing time.

The work centred on a steel plate connection that needed redesigning, and on the cracked masonry in the house. Steelwork in houses is usually only as good as its connections and bearings, and in general, when either is inadequate, the masonry nearby is often where the signs first appear. Repairs in that situation need to deal with the steelwork and the brickwork together, not one in isolation.

Responding to urgent cracking in a house

Our urgent site visit assessed the cracking and what was needed to keep the building safe. From there, we redesigned the steel plate connection so that the steelwork could carry and transfer its loads as intended. Connections are a common weak point in domestic steelwork, and a well-designed connection matters as much as the beam it serves.

We then provided strapping details for the cracked masonry and helical bar repair details. Helical bars are stainless steel bars bedded into mortar joints across a crack, stitching the masonry back together, while straps tie elements to restrain movement. Both are well-established repairs that keep disruption to the existing wall low. Our guide to steel beams and padstones explains how steelwork and its supports work together.

Planning something similar?

When cracking appears suddenly, a prompt structural visit tells you where you stand. Repairs can then be designed properly rather than rushed. Our dangerous structure inspection is the right first step when you are worried about safety and need advice on what to do immediately.